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China Leans on Familiar Stimulus Playbook to Hit 6.7% Growth

Beijing expected to double down on old growth drivers this year

January 19, 2017

BEIJING—China used a surge of easy credit and state spending to eke out 6.7% growth in the economy for 2016, the weakest rate in a generation.

The published rate was well within leaders’ target range of between 6.5% and 7%, but economists say Beijing only got to the final number by relying heavily on short-term measures likely to delay much-needed overhauls to bloated state-owned companies and the country’s inefficient financial system.